Ice-vending machine



March 26, 1929. EN 1,706,475

ICE VENDING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 26, 1 929.

G. 1.. BENNETT ICE VENDING MACHINE Filed July, 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 QWMWINQH B fl/WW 2; ATTORNEY rim March 26, 1929. B T 1,706,475

1:02: VENDING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l LE1 l "OK I WXW m k o 5% INVENTOR Z4; ATTORNEY March 26, 1929. BENNETT 1,706,475

ICE VENDING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 caooaoooe luoo oq ooo I @Mwmmn Arm/(Er,

Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES GEORGE L. BENNETT, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO.

ICE-VENDIN G MACHINE.

Application filed July 12,

My invention relates to ice vending machines and more particularly to a machine adapted to have stored therein large cakes of ice, and having mechanisms by which these cakes will be automatically fed in relation to a delivery mechanism and acutofi mechanism for separating each cake into a plurality of smaller pieces of substantially uniform bulk.

The machine of my invention is designed for use as an ice station from which the purchasing public mayobtain ice at retail without requiring the services of an attendant, the machine being automatic in all of its functionings excepting the charging of the storage chamber with the large cakes of ice, and the starting of the machine and the removal of the piece of ice which result from the acts of the purchaser.

In the machine of my invention, there is no definite limitation upon the storage capacity, and the labor cost of operation 1s limited to that incidental to the delivery 'of large cakes of ice to the machine and the collection of the coins or checks deposited in the machine with incidental inspection to ensure the maintenance of an adequate supply of ice at all times.

The machine is capable of operation at a s eed at least commensurate with the handling of the ice by the purchaser, the delivery of the ice following the deposit of a coin or check in the machine with sufiicient rapidity to avoid unnecessary delays from this source.

The mechanisms in themachine are such that the large cakes of ice are delivered and progressively advanced in relation to a cutoff mechanism, it being possible and preferable to so construct the feeding mechanism for the cake of ice as to compensate for the varied dimensions throughout the cake, and cause each piece of ice served from the cake, to beof substantially the same bulk and weight as every other piece. The loss from shrinkage is reduced to minimum since the whole mechanism may be contained within a suitably insulated housing, maintained at a temperature sufficiently low to prevent any material melting of t e ice by means other than the ice stored in the machine for sales purposes. 1

The mechanism for delivering the cakes of ice from the storage compartment to the feeding mechanism,-is so constructed that 1924. Serial N0. 725,754.

the different cakes of ice will be spaced a art sufficiently to avoid their binding toget er, thus permitting the handling and delivering of clean ice. l.

The mechanism used for separating the cakes of ice into smaller pieces is such as to avoid any'm'aterial chipping or breaking of the ice, the delivery mechanism also being so constructed that each piece of ice will be delivered in goodcondition to the purchaser,

a d the presence of small particles of ice in aiid, about the delivery mechanism tending to interfere with the actuation of this mechanism, will be avoided entirely or reduced to .a mlnlmum.

In order to ensure the proper intermittent feeding movement of the cake of ice in relation to the cutoff mechanism, I provide a feeding mechanism with controlling means so constructed and arranged as to ensure the ice being advanced with relation to the cutting mechanism only as such movement is required, and to limit this movement to a distance required to cause a delivery of a pieceof ice upon a succeedin operation of the machine of the desired bu k and weight.

I embody in the machine various refinements for ensuring the maintenance of the ice in the proper position as it is being fed in relation to the cutoff mechanism and to cause the actuation of the feeding mechanism in a manner to bring a fresh cake of ice within the operative range of the feeding mechanism before the complete exhaustion of the preceding cake, thus ensuring the delivery of a piece of ice with the deposit of each coin, and avoiding all disturbances and loss through a failure of the machine to thus operate.

The invention consists primarily in an ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoff mechanism adapted to intermittently and progressively separate a cake of ice into' a plurality of pieces, a feeding mechanism whereby succeeding cakes of ice may be advanced toward and brought into the operative relation to, said cutofi' mechanism as required, a storage mechanism adapted to deliver cakes of ice as required in operative relationto said feeding mechanism, delivery means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutoff mechanism from the cakes of ice are delivered-exteriorly of the machine, means whereby the operation of said mechanisms may be controlled exteriorly of the machine,

and an insulated housing inclosing said mechanisms and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section through the mechanisms of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 1 showing a portion of the storage mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal condensed sectional view, from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the actuating means for the cutod mechanism, for the delivery mechanism and for the control for the feeding mechanism; and

. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring for controlling the operation of the feeding mechanism.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the operative mechanisms of the machine are enclosedby a house 10 having heat insulated walls and provided with suitable bunkers for the reception of broken or waste ice and salt, for the purpose of bringing, and maintaining, the interior of the house to and at substantially the itreez ing point of water for the purpose of preventing wastage by melting, of the cakes of ice to be merchandised, and also the formation of a moisture film upon these cakes of ice which might tend to cause the cakes to adhere to mechanisms in the machine or to each other, in the event that it is not found expedient to employ the form of storage mechanism particularly referred to herein after.

llhe house 10 has a suitable door 11 therein, 'by means of which the storage chamber may be charged and recharged with cakes of ice, it being preferableto provide a platform 12 adjacent said door, and of a height to receive cakes of ice from a wagon.

Within the house 10 are the mechanisms by which a cake of ice may be automatically cut into a plurality of pieces of substantially uniform weight and bulk, which l have termed a cutoff mechanism, a mechanism by which each cake of ice is intermittently fed in relation to said cutoii mechanism, a delivery mechanism adapted to receive pieces of ice, one piece at a time, after it has been cut from the cake; a storage mechanism adapted to receive a number of cakes of ice and to automatically deliver them to the feeding mechanism as required, and a check controlled mechanism adjacent the delivery mechanism so that the various mechanisms within the house 10 may be controlled by a purchaser, but will, in all other respects, be automatic in their iunctionings.

Within the housing 10 is a slideway 13 which may be made of any desired material, or of any desired construction to facilitate the movement of a cake of ice along same by the feeding mechanism.

Adjacent one end, at opposite sides of, and above this slideway are oppositely disposed, vertically arranged rows of picks or chisels, 14-15, movable toward and from. each other. These picks or chisels are carried respectively upon suitable'bars 16 and 17 mounted upon wheeled carriages such as 18, see Fig. 3, although the supports 16 and 17 for said picks may be mounted to have movement by any means other than the carriage as shown.

djacent each of the supports 16 and 17 is a fixed vertical standard 19-20 each corrnected with its support by a series of toggle levers 21-22, for imparting movement to the support and the picks or chisels, through a mechanism operative thereon.

Hinged to each of the supports 16 and 17 is a bar 2324 extending at right angles thereto, and each carrying a line of horizontally disposed picks or chisels 25 and 26. The picks or chisels 25 and 26 are positioned substantially coincident with the center line of the cake of ice, so that with each actuation of the cutofi mechanism a portion of the end oi a cake will be split therefrom by the lines of picks 14.- and 15, and the piece thus split from the rest of the cake will be cut in half horizontally by the picks or chisels 25 and 26.

Each set of toggle levers 2324l is acted upon by a restoring spring 2728.

Connected with the toggle lovers of each set is.a thrust bar 2930, acting against the tension of the springs 27 and 28, under the control of a cutofi' cam 31-32, each cam corresponding in construction and setting to the other.

The said cams are actuated by a motor 33 connected with a shaft carrying said cams by a speed reducing gearing 34.

Each of the cams 31 and 32 has a so uenoe of short risers thereon, of progressive y increasing heights, shown more-particularly in Figs. 1 and d, at 35, a concentric portion 36 of substantially the same radius as the highest one of the risers 35, and extending in are a sufiicient distance to hold the picks in their innermost positionv for a sufiicient interval to permit the delivery of the upper piece of ice during the actuation of the hinged bars 23 and 24, just prior to the cam coming to rest after a movement of 180 in arc. Beyond the concentric portion 36 is a single riser 37, and a gradual fall 38, to the shortest radius of the cam, this construction being to give one actuation to the picks or chisels upon the succeeding actuation of the machine followed by a complete withdrawal of the chisels, to permit-the delivery of the lower piece out ice.

Elli

The movement of the cam is divided during each rotation, into two stages, each 7 180 in arc, the risers c and portion 36 bemg operative during the first stage, and the riser 37 and fall 38 being operative during the second stage.

Leading from adjacent the endof the slideway 13 is a delivery chute 39 forming a part of the delivery mechanism, this chute passing through the walls of the house 10 to a delivery chamber at 40 adjacent the check cont-rolled mechanism, to be referred to hereinafter. There is arranged in the lengthof this chute, a self-closing door 41 so that a piece of ice sliding down said chute will automatically open said doorwhen passing to said receiving chamber, the door immediately closing to prevent the entrance of heated air into the house 10. Beyond the end of this chute is a tilting bin 42 having one wall 43 normally closing the delivery opening adjacent the check controlled mechanism, and a wall 44 having a segmental shield 45 below-same, adjacent the end of the discharge chute. The bin is pivoted at 46 and is actuated by means of the links 47 controlled by a foot pedal 4 Above the chute 39, and on substantially the same plane as the line of horizontal picks 25 and 26 is a hinged chute section 49 supported by a counterweight 50, the chain of which passes over sheaves upon a shaft 51, which shaft is connected by means of the gears 52 with a resistance device 53. Supported beyond the end of the supplemental chute 49 1s a sto '54 having a bumper surface 55 presented toward the cutoff mechanism. This supplemental chute 49 is used only when delivering the upper piece of ice,

it being spaced away from the chute 39 sufficiently to afford the necessary clearance for the passage of the lower pieces of ice bencath same.

The ice is delivered to the chute section 49 through the tilting of the horizontal row 7 of picks or chisels 25 and 26 by means of links 56 connected with the bars 23 and 24 and also with cranks 57 supported'adjacent the cams 31 and 32 res ectively and in the path of movement of striker members 58 carried by, the shaft of said cams. The cranks of said lever engage'stops 59 and 60 which accurately position the hinged bars 23 and 24 and the picks or chisels 25 and 26 carried thereby. The striker members 58 are so set with relation to the cams 31 and 32 that theywill engage and actuate the cranks 57, whilethesegment 36 of said fitting is in operative relation to the push bars 29 and 30 respectively.

The construction of the feeding mechanism is such that a cake of ice 61 when deposited upon the slideway= 13 will be acted upon following each complete rotation of the cams 31 and 32, while the low point of the fall 38 is engaging the push rods 29 and 30, and advanced toward, and into operatlve relation to, the cutotf mechanism, incidentally delivering the previously cut lower piece of ice. 4 1

Thismechanism includes therein a car-' riage 62 movable along the slideway 13 under the control of-a lead screw 63 and a cooperat-ing traveller nut 64 upon the carriage. The lead screw 63 is driven from the electric motor 65, the power to said motor being controlled by a make and break mechanism 67 upon the carriage adapted to be engaged and actuated, by a sequence of pro-. jections 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73 and 74 positioned at predetermined distances along the slideway 13 so that the feeding movement of the carriage with each actuation of the motor 65 will be automatically stopped as a result of the interruption of the current by he engagement of the make and break 'echanism 67 with some projections 68 to 74. It will bereadily understood that said projections 68 to 74 may "be varied in number and in position to correspond with the number of vertical cuts to, be made upon each cake of ice and the spacing of these cuts.

The carriage 62 is provided with chucks 75 adjacent a bumper 7 6, these chucks being so formed as to compensate for the taper of the ice cake, and bring the longitudinal center of the cake in substantial alinement with the horizontal rows of picks or chisels 25 and 26. ,Said chucks slide along the slideway 13 and support the ice until after the last vertical out has been made in the cake of ice and the carriage is reversed or backed up to receive the succeeding cake of ice, the movement of which will upon that actuation of the machine deliver the last lower piece of ice into which any cake is cut.

Since the carriage 62 advances by an intermittent movement toward the cutoff mechanism, but is moved in the reverse direction or backed up for the full length of the slideway 13, when a fresh cake of ice is to be delivered to said slideway, it is apparent that the motor 65 must be a reversible motor, and the electrical controlling mechanism for this motor must be so arranged as to reverse the current thereto when the functioning of the machine so requires.

To secure this result I provide in circuit with the switch mechanism 67, a pole chang mg switch 77 having an actuating member 78, adapted to be engaged by abutments 79 and 80 adjacent opposite ends of the slideway 13.

Upon the carriage 62 are upper and lower automatically actuated tongs, the jaws of which are positioned upon both sides of the slideway so as to steady a cake of ice 61 while it is upon the slideway. The upper tong jaws are shown at 81 and 82 and the lower tong jaws at 83 and 84.

Each jaw is separately pivoted, and has two arms 85 and 86, one otwhich 85 is adapted to be engaged by studs 87 and 88 adjacent the cutoff mechanism, and the other of which 86 is adapted to be engaged by studs 89 'and 90 adjacent the end of the slideway toward the motor 65. The jaws are acted upon by springs 91 and 92 which will automatically close them, the studs 89 and 90 preventing these springs acting while the cake of ice is being delivered'to the slideway. A stop member 93 is engaged by the arms 86 and limits the opening movement of said jaws against the tension of saidsprings.

Carried by the bars 16 and 17' below the horizontal rows of picks and 26 and between the end of the slideway 13 and the adjacent end of the chute 39 are stops 94 and 95'which, while the segments 36 are in engagement with the push bars 29 and 30, Wlll prevent the accidental escape of the lower piece of ice from the slideway onto said chute.

' The storage mechanismin the machine in cludes therein'a conveyor consisting of an endless belt 96 having thereon spacing blocks, or cleats, 97, and passing about rollers 98 and 99. The belt 96 is supported intermediate said rollers by suitable means such as the rollers 100. The belt is arranged on an incline so that the weight of ice cakes deposited thereon will tend to impart the necessary movement to the belt to cause the ice cakes to be successively delivered there from onto skids 101 directed downwardly toward the slideway l3.

Toensure the proper timing in the actuation of saidbelt, I provide a braking mechanism or other means which is normally set to prevent movement of the belt. The braking mechanism or other means is set by the weight of the cakes of ice upon the conveyor and is automatically released as a result of the movement "of the carriage 62, in a manner to permit the delivery of one cake of ice by the conveyor mechanism to the slideway, the succeeding cake of ice resetting the brake mechanism or other means, thus limiting the operative effect of the conveyor mechanism to the delivery of one cake of ice at a time.

In the form of the invention shown, this controlling means for the storage conveyor consists of a brake drum 102 acted upon by a hand brake 103, the actuating means for which consists of a lever 104 having secured thereto by a horizontal ivot, a controlling arm 105 adapted to pro ect in the movement of ice upon the conveyor elt 96.

Mounted adjacent and below the controlling arm 105 is'a shaft 106 carrying thereon a hit member 106 in engaging relation with said arm 105, and a crank 107 in the path of -movement of a striker member 108 upon the carriage 62.

. showin path of While the foregoing mechanisms are automatic in their functioning, it'is to be understood that the delivery of pieces of ice is not continuous so that means must be'provide'd readily accessible to the purchasing public, whereby the operation of these mechanisms may be controlled so ,far as the initial application of power to the machine is concerned.

Hence. it will be readily ,understoodthat whenthe terms automatic andintermi'ttent are employed, such terms must be understood The means for controlling the operation of the various mechanisms in the machine may take a variety of different forms, and include various arrangements of electrical switches, the following feature however, will be, common to all arrangements which may,

be adopted, to Wit :-the use of a circuit closing device which may be operated' by the purchaser either by the deposit of a coin or check, or the use of a key; a make and break mechanism actuated as a result of the rotation of the cams of the cutofi mechanism; a make and break mechanism for interrupting the circuit at predetermined intervals so as to control the feeding movements of the carriage 62; a make andbreak mechanism for reversingthe motor 65, these two last mechanisms being carried by and movable with the carriage 62, and a make and break mechanism also actuated as a result. of. the movements of the cams of the cutoff mechanism, arranged in circuit with the two make.

and break mechanisms upon the carriage for ensuring a timely restartingoi the carriage.

The functioning of all the make and break mechanisms exceptin that controlled as a result of the deposit of -a c'oinor cheek, or'the use of a key in the machine, is entirely automatic. i

In actual practice, the conditions within the house 10. are such as to make it desirable to use mercury switches, commonly known as mercoid switches, 511106, in this type of switch, the electrical contacts are immune to deterioration as a result of moisture conditlons within the house, In Fig. 5, I have illustrated diagrammaticallyan arrangement the useof switches of this type althoug it is apparent that other types 0 make and break mechanisms may be employed in lieu thereof and secure thesame operative effects, if not the same immunity from likelihood of failure of the switches to operate.

Adverting first to the check or key controlled 'inake and break mechanism, this mechanism consists of a tiltable two-wa switch member 109, the movements of which are controlled by mechanisms which form no part of the present invention, but may be of any old or well known construction. This mechanism controls the movement of a rock lever 110, operative upon said switch, and having actuating plungers 111 and 112 exposed exter'iorly of the machine.- One set )f terminals of said two-way tilting member 109 is connected with the motor 33 through a similar switch mechanism 113 mounted adjacent the shaft 66 for the cams 31 and 32, which shaft also actuates a make and break mechanism controlling the circuit to the make and break mechanism 67.

The actuating means for the make and break mechanism 113'consistsof a rock lever 114 mounted adjacent a cam 115 on the shaft 66 havin a rise 116 and fall 117 each ex tending for substantially 180, one end of spring as to be constantl said lever 114 being so acted upon by a engaged with said cam to limit the oscil atory movement of the lever and of the make and break mechanism 113 to that required, while ensuring the succeeding movements of said switch interrupting the circuit to the motor 33 following each 180 of movement of the cams 31 and 32, and positioning the member 113 so that upon the next actuation of the switch 109, the circuit will be closed to said motor 33.

Adverting to the make and break mechanisms controlling the movements of the carriage 62, the mechanism 67 is of the same type as the mechanisms 109 and 113, and is actuated by a rock shaft 118 having arms 119 and 120 adapted to engage the projections 68 to 74, the position of alternate projections being such that one projection will engage one of these arms and the nerzt wlll engage the other arm. The last pro ection 74 adjacent the cutoff mechanism will be so set that during the return movement of the carriage, neither arm 119 or 120 will engage any projection, a supplemental projection 68 being provided adjacent the end of the slideway 13 towards the motor for the purpose of restoring said arms 119 and 120 to a position where, during the feeding movement of the carriage, they will engage the projections 68 to 74. The various switch mechanisms used throughout the device are of a well known t pe of construction more particularly descri ed hereinafter.

The mechanism 67 is a two-way mercury switch always having one set of contacts closed, and the flow of the current to the motor 65 through this switch is controlled by a make and break mechanism 121, actuated from the shaft 66 of the cams 31 and 32, This mechanism 121 includes a two-way, tiltable mercury, or other similar, switch of the conveyor 98- to the slideway 13.

same type as in the other make and break mechanisms described, one set of contacts of this switch being connected with one set of contacts upon the switch member 67, and the other set of contacts of said mechanism 121 being connected with the other set of contacts of the member 67. The members 67 i 123 so as to cause the actuation of said make apd break mechanism twice during each. 1' tation of said cam but only once during each rotation of the shaft 66.

The gear 126 is connected to the shaft 66 by a small gear 124, the ratio of the gears 126 and 124 being as two to one, so as to cause the actuation of the member 121 once during each alternative 31 and 32.

The make and break mechanism 77 is similar in construction to the mechanisms 109, 113 and 67, being tilted in opposite directions by the actuating member 78 and abutments 79 and 80 as heretofore described.

In a system of remote control operative automatically, the arrangement above described will be found highly satisfactory since the mechanisms 121 and 67 will always have one set of contacts closed, and the other set open, so that the movements of the carriage may be controlled as a result of 'a predetermined position of one of these switches with relation to the other, and thus permit the carriage to be stopped by the actuation of the mechanism 67, and startedby the actuation of the mechanism 121.

Arranged in circuit with the switches 113, 67 and 77 is what may be termed a loading switch, the purpose of which is to prevent feeding movement of the carriage in the event that a cake of ice is not in position upon the slideway 13. This mechanism consists of spaced contacts 127 and 128 adapted to be closed by a bridge 129 carrying a spring pressed plunger 130 in the path of movement of a cake of ice passin from the This plunger also has a keeper member 131 adapted to be engaged by a spring pressed bolt 132 having an angular extension 133, the turned end of which 134 is positioned in the ath of movement during the return or bac mg n; movement of this carriage, to receive a cake of ice. By this arrangement, when the switch has once been closed as a result of the rotation of the cams I chine is substantiall en agement of a cake of ice therewith, it wi 1 remain closed, notwithstanding that the end of thecake of ice willpass from engaging relation therewith, and still permit the closing of the circuit to the motor 65; but in the event of the failure of the conveyor mechanism to deliver a cake of ice to the slideway, the circuit will be opened and thus prevent movementoi: the carria e. The operation of the herein escribed maas follows Assuming that t e storage conveyor is ro erly and fully charged with four hunfired pound cakes of ice, the machine shown in the drawings being esigned to handle cakes of this size), that a cake has passed to upon the slideway 13, and that the last piece of ice of the precedingcake, (the lower piece of the last vertical cut), is still ad'acent the cutoff mechanism, the deposit 0 a coin, or check, or the use of a key by the purchaser, and the forcing inwardly of one of the plungers 111-412 will result in the following action of t e machine The movement of the plunger inwardly will break the circuit at one of the terminals of the mechanism 109 and make the circuit at the other terminals of said mechanism, thus lacing these terminals in circuit with the c osed terminals of the mechanism 113, and therethrough to the motor 33'. This will cause the rotation of the shaft 66 and of the cam 115, the rise 117 on which will, after a prox mately 180 of movement of the sha me the rock lever 114 and actuate the switch member 113 so as to break the circuit through one set of contacts carried thereb and close the other set of contacts carrie b said member. This will interrupt the circuit to the motor 33 since the contacts upon the'mechanism 113 thus closed are in electrical connection with the contacts upon the mechanism 109 which were opened as a result of the actuation of the plunger by the purchaser.

As the shaft 66 and the cams 31 and 32 are thus turned, the riser 37 of each cam will force the push rods 29 and 30 downwardly, and through the levers 21 and 22, impart oscillatory movement to the bars 16 and 1'1 carrying the vertical sets'of picks or chisels 14 and 15 and the horizontal sets of picks or chisels 25 and 26. This'movement of said chisels will merely result in the lower portion of the vertical rows entering between the piece of ice and the fresh cake, so as to en-' sure the freeing of this piece in the event that it may have frozen to the new cake. The horizontal rows of picks will pass above this piece of ice and do no work.

The continued rotation of the cams 31 and 32 will permit the push bars 29 and 30 to ascend, following the fall of said cams. When they have ascended to the full extent, the vertical rows of picks will be moved to weave opposite sides of the slideway 13, thus affordin a clear field for the movement of the cake 0 ice'along this slideway.

Substantially simultaneously with this withdrawal of said icks, the rise 125 on the cam 123, which is driven from the shaft 66 at a speed ratio of one to two, will actuate the member 121 so as to close the circuit through the switches 67 and 7 7 to the motor 65 and thus rotate the lead screw 63, and impart traverse to the carriage 62 through the nut 64. I

As the make and'break mechanism 67 approaches the first'projection 68, the arm 119 will actuate said make and break mechanism by engagement with said projection and so set the mechanism 67 as to open one set of contacts carried thereby and close the other, thus incidently opening the circuit to the switch 77 since this last set of contacts thus closed is in circuit with the set of contacts upon the member 121 opened as a result of the action of the cam 123 thereon. This movement of the carriage will force the piece of ice adjacent the delivery chute 39 onto said chute below the chute section 49, the piece of ice sliding along the chute automatically opening the door 41 and entering the chamber 40' where the purchaser by the use of the foot'pedal 48 may tilt the ice.

The above is the action of the mechanism for one of the cycles of the machine during which the lower piece of ice is delivered by the machine, and will constitute every sec- 0nd cycle in the operation of the machine, the functionings of the machine, however, being varied during one of these cycles when it is necessary to deliver a fresh cake of ice to the slideway 13.

Upon the next actuation of the make and break mechanism 109 by the other plunger 111 or 112, the circuit to the motor 33 will be closed through the switch mechanism 113 WhlCll, as state was set preparatory to condltion during the preceding cycle of, operations of the machine. In the meanwhile this the delivery of the last piece of ice will havebrought the forward end of the next 36 of the cams 31 and 32 will maintain the I picks in this position. At the same time the striker members 58 upon eachcam will raise and pass the cranks 57 and through the links 56 raise'the hinged bars 23 and 24 the chute 49 to the chute 39, and be delivered in the manner heretofore described. The

cams will come to rest while-the .concentric portion 36 is thus engagedwith the push bars 29 and 30.

The stops 94 and 95 will prevent accidental displacement of the lower. piece of ice while the upper piece is thus being delivered.

Owing to thefact that the gear 126 has merely one-quarter of a revolution during one-half of the revolution of the shaft 66,

the make and break mechanism 121 will not be actuated during this cycle of operations, the carriage having no feeding movement as a vresult.

-Thesetwo cycles will be repeated until seven vertical cuts have been made and until the carriage is advanced to bring the cake of ice to a point where the vertical rows of picks will pass the end of the ice adjacent the carriage and be inoperative to cause a vertical cut, but permitting the horizontal rows of picks to divide the'last section of ice horizontally and deliver it to the chute section 49.

Upon the last actuation above referred to, the carriage 62 will be closely adjacent the end of the slides 13 toward the cutoff mechanism, the tongs setting and holding the last out of ice, but being released 'sufliciently to permit the delivery of the upper piece.

Upon the nextactuation of the machine,

the carriage will advance until the arm 78 of the reversing switch mechanism 77 engages the abutment 80, the lower piece of ice being moved along the slides a short distance during this movement of the carriage.

During this movement the arm 120 carried by the member 67 will be brought to a pos1- tion where, during the resulting reversed movementof the carriage, it will be caused to pass, without engaging, the various stops 68 to 74 in the inverse order. As the carriage approaches the limit of this reverse movement, it will engage the-turned end 134 of the bolt 132,. withdrawing'this bolt from the keeper 131,and thus permitting movement of the bridge 129 away from the contacts 127 and 128, and interrupting the circuit to the motor 65. Immediately prior to this stoppage of the carriage, the striker member; 108 upon this carriage will oscillate the shaft 106, thus causing the lift member' thereon to raise the arm 105, relievin the drum 102 from pressure from the band brake 103, and permitting the belt 96 to I move freely'under the load of ice thereon until a cake of ice 61 is moved upon the skids 101, along which it may pass to the 'slideway 13, incidently cont-acting with the plunger 130 and engaging the contacts 127, 128 and 129, and closing the circuit to the motor since none of the other make and break mechanisms have been disturbed durin theinterim.

en the circuit has thus been closed, the carriage will continue its reverse or backing up movement until the arm 78 of the mechanism 77 engages the abutment 79 and thus tilts the mercury switch of said mechafism to reverse the motor 65. At the same it within the operative range of t brin the pro ections 68 to 74, and the tongs' will be released so as toclose upon the cake of .ice. I i

The carriage will then have movement toward the cutoff mechanism, moving the cake of ice along the slidewhy 13 until the forme the arm 120 will be so actuated as ward end thereof engages the remaining and lower piece of the preceding cake of ice, forcing it upon the chute 39 and bringing afresh cake of ice with its forward end into the operative position with relationto the cutoff, mechanism. Substantially simultaneously with this positioning of parts, the first projection 68 will actuate the make and break mechanism 67 to interrupt the circuit to the motor 65 and thus stop all of the mechanisms in the machine until the delivery of the next piece of ice is required.

As the conveyor belt 96 moves with the ice, the arm will be held by the cake of ice being thus delivered, until this ice has passed from engaging relation with the arm, whereupon the arm will descend and be engaged by the'succeeding cake of ice, so that a slight continued movement of the belt or the cake of ice thereon engaging said arm, will reset the band brake and stop further movement of the belt. In releasin the band brake, the lever 104: will be turne slightly in a direction counter to the movement of the belt. The cleats upon the belt Will afford that clearance between the cakes of ice desirable not only to prevent succeedmg cakes'of ice being bonded together, but also to compensate for the taper i n the ice itself, while at the same time permitting space for disengagement of said arm from one cake of ice and its engagement with the.

riage is but slightly over four .feet, and the rate of movement fairly high, this delay will not be appreciable.

The capacity of the conveyor belt 96 may be such as to permit the storage of several tons of ice, and the construction and arrangement of the machine is such as to permit its reliable operation when cutting the several cakes into smaller pieces and delivering them under the conditions described.

As stated heretofore, the projections 68 to I 74 are spaced at progressively increased dis-. tances apart toward the cutoif mechanism to compensate for the taper in the ,cakes of ice, and these projections may be varied in number and in their spacing to determine the sizes of the pieces of ice into which each cake is cut, and thus compensate for price variation during different seasons, or during different parts of the same season. It will be readily understood that such adjustment will have the effect of varying the spacing I between vertical cuts.

The machine may operate without an attendant, it being required, however, from time to time to recharge the conveyor belt with cakes of ice, although the loading switch mechanism will prevent'the actuation of the machine when there is delivered.

The check or other controlling mechanism may be so constructed as to revent the deposit of coins, or checks, or t e actuation of plungers 111-112 while the loading switch is open. This, however, is no'part of the present invention, and is therefore not shown nor described.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown, since such may be varied without deartin from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new-and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. An ice vending machine embodying therein a c'utofl mechanism adapted to intermittently and progressively separate a cake of ice into a plurality of pieces, a feeding mechanism whereby succeeding cakes of ice may be advanced toward and brou ht into the operative relation to, said cuto mechanism as required, a storage mechanism adapted to deliver cakes of ice as required no ice to be in operative relation to said feeding mechanism, delivery means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutoff mechanism from the cakes of ice are delievered' exteriorly of the machine, means whereby the operation of said mechanisms may. be controlled from exteriorly of the machine, and an insulated housing inclosing said mechanisms.

2. An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoff mechanism including a row of vertically. extending picks, a' row of horizontally extending picks project'n from a said vertical row of picks, supports for said picks, means operative upon said supports ports, means whereby cakes of ice are successively brought into the operative relation to said cutoii mechanism to be separated into a plurality of pieces, delivery means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutoff mechanism are delivered exteriorly .of the ma-; chine, means exposed exteriorly of the machine wherebythe operation of said cam may be controlled, and an insulting housing inclosing said mechanisms. 7 4

y 3. An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoff mechanism including two oppositely disposed rows of vertically, extending picks, two oppositely disposed rows of horizontally extending picks projecting from said vertical rows of pi'cksrespectively, supports for said picks, means operative upon said supports to move said picks toward and from a cake of ice, a plurality of similar cams operative upon said last named.

means to control the movements of said supports, means whereby cakes of ice are successively brought into the operative relation to said cutoff mechanism to be separated into a plurality of pieces, delivery means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutofi mechanism are delivered exteriorly of the machine, means exposed exteriorly of .the machine whereby the operation of said cams maybe controlled, .and an insulating housing inclosing said mechanisms.

4. An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoff mechanism including a row of vertically extending picks, a row of horizontally extending picksv projectin from said vertical row of picks, supports picks, means operative upon said: supports to move said picks toward and from a cake of ice, a cam operative upon said last named means to control the movements of said sup- ?or' said a ports, means whereby cake'sof ice. are successively brought into the operative relation to said cutofi' mechanism to be separated into a, plurality of pieces, a delivery chute whereby pieces of ice severedby said cutofi mechanism are delivered exteriorly of the .machine, means operative in synchronism two trom said vertical rows of picks respectively, supports for said picks, means operative upon said supports to move said picks toward and from a cake of ice, a plurality of similar cams operative upon said last named means to control the movements of said supports, means whereby cakes of ice are successively brought into the operative relation to said cutofl mechanism to be separated into a plurality of pieces, a delivery chute whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutofi' mechanism are delivered exteriorly of the machine, means operative in synchroni'sm with the movement of said cams whereby said horizontal rows of picks are tilted to deliver a piece of ice above said picks to said chute,

means exposed exteriorly of the machine whereby the operation of said cams may be controlled, and an insulating housing inclosing said mechanisms;

6. An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoff mechanism including a row of vertically extending picks, a row of horizontally extending icks projecting from said vertical rowel picks, supports for said picks, meansoperative upon said supports to move said picks toward and from a cake of ice, a cam operative upon said last named means to control the movements of said supports, means whereby cakes of ice are successively brought into the operative relation to said cutofi mechanism to be separated into a plurality of pieces, a delivery chute whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutofi' mechanism are delivered exteriorly of the machine, the support for said horizontal row of picks being pivoted remotely from said vertical row of picks, a lever adjacent said cam, a link connecting said lever and the free end of the support for said horizontal row of picks, a striker member movable with said cam and adapted to engage said lever, whereby said horizontal row of picks is tilted to deliver a piece of ice above said picks to said chute, means exposed exteriorly of the machine whereby the operation of said cam may be controlled, and an insulating housing inclosing said mechanisms An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoff mechanism including two oppositely disposed rows of vertically extending picks, two oppositely disposed rows 'of horizontally extending picks projecting from said vertical rows of picks respectively fixed and said movable supports for sald icks means 0 erative u on said su )orts to move said picks toward and from a cake of ice, a plurality of similar cams operative upon said last named means to control the movements of said supports, means whereby cakes of ice are successively brought into I the operative relation to said cutoff mechanism to be separated into a plurality of pieces, a delivery chute whereby pieces of a piece of ice above said picks to} said chute,

means exposed exteriorly of the machine whereby t e operation of said cams maybe controlled, and an insulating housing inclosinisaid mechanisms.-

8. n ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoff mechanism including a row of vertically extending icks, a row of horizontally extending pic s projecting from said vertical row of picks, supports for said picks, means operative upon said supports to move said plcks toward and from a cake of ice, a cam operative upon said lastnamed means to control the movements of said supports, means whereby cakes of. ice are su'ccessively brought into the operative relation to said cutofi' mechanism to be separated in-- to a plurality of pieces, delivery means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutoff mechanism are delivered exteriorly of the machine, means exposed exteriorly of the machine whereby the operation of said cam .may be controlled, an electric motor for actuating said cam, an electrical make and breakmechanism actuated by said means exposed exteriorly of the machine, an electrical make and break mechanism actuated in synchroni'sm with said cam, said make and break mechanisms being in circuit with said motor and so set as to ermit the first named make and break mec ianism to close the circuit to said motor and said other make and break mechanism to open the circuit to said motor after said cam has moved approximately 180, and an insulating housing inclosing said mechanisms.

a 9. An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoff mechanism including a row of vertically extending icks, a row of hori-- centric portion within 180 of the circumference of said cam, and a single rise and fall within the remaining 180 of said circumference, operative upon said last named means to control the movements of said supports, and a spring actin upon said means counter to the action 0 said cam, means whereby cakes of ice are successively brought into the operative relation to said cutoff mechanism to be separated into a plurality 1 ward and from a cake of ice,-a

means counter of pieces,'delivery.means wherebylpieces of ice severed b said cutofl mechanism are de livered .exterlorly of the machine, means exposed exteriorly of the machine whereby the operation of said cammay be controlled, and an insulating housing-inclosing said mecha- 10. An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoif mechanism including two oppositely disposed rows of vertically extending'picks, two oppositely disposed rows of horizontally extending picks projecting from said vertical rows of picks respective-- ly, supports for said picks, means operative upon said supports to move said picks toplurality of similar cams, each having a sequence of rises of progressively increasing heights and a concentric portion within 180 of the circumference .of each cam, and a single rise and fall within the remaining 180 of said circumference, operative upon said last named means to control the movements of said supports, springs acting upon said to the action of said cams, means whereby cakes of ice are successively brou ht into the operative relation to said cuto mechanism to be separated into a plurality of pieces, delivery means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutofl mechanism are delivered exteriorly of the machine, means ex osed exteriorl of the machine whereb t e operation 0 said cams may be control ed, and an insulating housing inclosing said mechanisms.

11. An ice vendin machine embodying therein a, cutoff mec anism adapted to intermittently and pro ressively separate a cake of ice into a p uralit of pieces, a feeding mechanism where y succeeding cakes of ice may be advanced toward and brought into the operative relation to, said cutoif mechanism as required, comprising therein a slideway adapted to receive a cake of ice, a carriage movable along'said slideway, whereby a cake of ice may be moved toward said cutofi mechanism, means for imparting movement to said carriage, an electrical motor for actuating said means, co-operating means carried by \said carriage, and adjacent said slideway, whereby the circuit to said motor will be automatically interrupted at predetermined intervals, a stor-. a e mechanism, means operative by said cut- 0 mechanism whereby the circuit to said motor will be closed at predetermined intervals, delivery means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutoff mechanism from the cakes of ice are delivered exteriorly of the machine, means whereby the operation oil said mechanisms may be controlled from exteriorly or the machine, and an insulated housing inclosing said mechanisms.

12 m ice vending machine embodying therein a catofi adapted to inter riage movable along said slideway,

mo emittently and progressively separate a cake of ice into a plurality of pieces, a feedrng mechanism whereby succeeding cakes of we may be advanced toward and brought into the operative relation to, saidcutofl' mecha nism as required, comprising therein a slide way adapted to receive a cake of ice, a car-' whereby a cakeof ice may be moved toward said cutoii mechanism, means for imparting movement to said carriage, an electrical motor for'actuating said means, co-operating means carried by said carriage, and adjacent said slideway, whereby the circuit to said motor will beautomatically interrupted at predetermined intervals, means operative by saidcutoif mechanism whereby the circuit to said motor will be closed at predetermined intervals, a reversing switch upon said carriage and in circuit with said motor,

means adjacent opposite ends of said slide-.

way whereby said switch will be actuated to control the direction of movement of the motor and the carriage, a storage mechanism, delivery means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutofli' mechanism from the cakes of ice are delivered exteriorly of the machine, means wherebythe operation of said mechanisms may be controlled from exteriorly of the machine, and an insulated housing inclosing said mechanisms.

13; An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoff mechanism adapted to intermittently and progressively separate a cake of ice into a pluralit of pieces, a feeding mechanism whereby succeeding cakes of ice may beadvanced toward and brought into the operative relation to, said cutofl mechanism as required, comprising therein a sl'ideway adapted to receive a cake of ice, a carriage movable along said slideway, whereby a cake of ice may be moved toward said cutofi? mechanism, a-lead screw, and a nut upon said carriage for imparting movement at iereto, an electrical motor for actuating said lead screw, an oscillatory twoway switch upon said carriage, spaced projections co-operating therewith and posi-.

movement of the motor and the carriage, a

storage mechanism, delivery means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutoff mechanism from the cakes of ice are delivered enteriorly of the machine, means whereby the operation of said mechanisms may be controlled "from exteriorly of the machine,

,inclosing said the operative relation to, said cutoff mecha-- nism as required, comprising therein a slideway adapted to receive a cake of ice, a carriage movable along said slideway, whereby a cake of ice may be moved toward said,

cutoff mechanism, tongs upon said carriage adapted to engage a cake of ice upon-said slideway, means adjacent opposite ends of the slideway for automatica y opening and closing said tongs, means for imparting movement to saidcarriage, an electrical motor for actuating said means, co-operating means carried by said carriage, and adjacent said slideway, whereby the circuit to said motor will be automatically interrupted at predetermined intervals, means operative by said cutoff mechanism whereby the circuit to said motor will be closed at predetermined intervals, a reversing switch upon said 'carriage and in circuit with said motor, means adjacent opposite ends of said slideway whereby said switch will be actuated to control the direction of movement of the motor andthe carriage, a storage mechanism, delivery meanswhereby pieces of ice severed by said cutoff mechanism from the cakes of ice are delivered exteriorly of the machine, means whereby the operation of said mechanisms may be controlled from exteriorly of the machine, and an insulated housing inclosing said mechanisms.

15. An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoff mechanism adapted to intermittently and progressively separate a cake of ice into a plurality of pieces, a "feeding mechanism whereby succeeding cakes of ice may be advanced toward and brought into the operative relation to, said cutoff mechanism as required, comprising therein a slideway adapted to receive a cake of ice, a carriage movable along said slideway, whereby a cake of ice may be moved toward said cutoff mechanism, means for imparting movement to said carriage, an electrical motor for actuating said means, co-operating means carried by said carriage, and adjacent said slideway, whereby the circuit to said motor will be automatically interrupted at predetermined intervals, means operative by said cutofi mechanism whereby the circuit to said motor will be closed at predetermined intervals, an electrical loading switch mechanism adjacent said slideway and acted u on by a cake of ice to close same, said mec a nism being in circuit with said motor, means whereby said mechanism may be maintained in a closed position whilei'the carriage is having movement toward the cut off mechanism, but is permitted to open towardthe limit of the movement of said carriage away from said cutoff mechanism, a reversing switch upon said carriage and in circuit with said motor, means adjacent opposite ends of said slideway whereby said switch Wlll be actuated to control the direction of movement of the motor and the carriage, a storage mechanism, deliver-y .means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutoff mechanism from the cakes of ice are delivered exteriorly of the machine, means whereby the operation of said mechanisms may be' controlled from exteriorly of the machine, and an insulated housing inclosing said mechanisms.

16. An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoff mechanism adapted to intermittentl'yand progressively separate a cake of ice into a plurality of ieces, a' feeding mechanism whereby succee ing cakes of ice may be advanced toward and brought into the operative relation to, said cutoff mechanism as required, comprising therein a slideway adapted to receive a cake of ice, a carria e movable along said slideway, whereby a carried by said carriage, and adjacent said. slideway, whereby the circuit to said motor will be automatically interrupted at predetermined intervals, a two-way tiltable reversing switch upon said carriage in circuit with said motor, abutments adjacent'opposite ends of said slideway operative upon said reversing switch, a two-way tiltable switch mechanism adjacent said cutoff mechanism, means operative by said cutoff mechanism and acting upon saidlast named switch mechanism, whereby the circuit to said motor will be closed at predetermined intervals, a storage mechanism, delivery means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutoff" mechanism from the cakes of ice are delivered exteriorly of the machine, means whereby the operation of said mechanisms may be controlled from exteriorly of the way adapted to receive cakes of ice, :1 car riage movable along said slideway, whereby cakes of ice may be moved toward said cutoff mechanism, means for imparting movement to said carriage, an electrical motor machine,'and an insulated housing inclosing I preventing machine,

carriage, an inclined conveyor mechanism adapted to receive a plurality of cakes of ice, means whereby said conveyor mechanism will operate ,from the action of the load of ice thereon to deliver'ice to said slidea way, means normally preventing the operation of said conveyor mechanism, means up on and movable with said carriage, and operative upon said means preventing operation of the conveyor mechanism to make it inoperative when the carriage is in a position to permit a cake of ice to pass to upon said slideway, a member carried by said means preventing operation of the conveyor mechanism adapted to be engaged by the ice upon said conveyor, to make said means operatlon of the conveyor mechanism operative after a cake of ice has passed to said slideway, delivery means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutoff mechanism from the cakes of iceare delivered exteriorly of the machine, means whereby the operation of said mechanisms controlled from exteriorly of the may be and an insulated housing lncloslng said mechanisms.

, nism as required,

18. An ice vending machine'embodying therein a cutoff mechanism adapted to intermittently and progressivelyseparate a cake of ice into a plurality of pieces, a feeding mechanism whereby succeeding cakes of ice may be advanced toward and brought into the operative relation to, said cutofli mechacomprising a sildeway adapted to receive a cake of ice, a carriage movable along said slideway, whereby a cake of ice may be moved toward said cutofi' mechanism, means for imparting movement to said carriage, an electrical motor for actuating said means, co-o'perating means carried by said carriage, and adjacent said slideway, whereby the circuit to said motor will be automatically interrupted at pred ctermined intervals, means operative by said cutoff mechanism whereby the circuit to said at predetermined intervals, a reversing switch upon said carriage and in circuit with said motor, means adjacent opposite ends of said slideway whereby said switch will be actuated to control the direction of movement of the motor and the carriage, an inclined conveyor mechanism adapted to receive a plurality of cakes motor will be closed of ice,

operating with means adjacarriage,

ing cake of ice,

rollers about which said conveyor mechanism passes, a brake drum operative upon one of said rollers, a brake'band cosaid drum, an oscillatory mounted by "a horizontal pivot upon said lever and projecting in the-path of move- I ment of ice upon said conveyor, whereby the ice upon said conveyor will act to, normally set said brake band, means operative to move said arm out of engaging relation with a cake ofice, a striker member upon and movable with the ear'riage, whereby said arm will, as a result of the movement of said be disengaged from one cake of ice and positioned to engage the succeeddelivery means whereby pieces of ice severed by said cutoff mechanism from the cakes of ice are delivered exteriorly of the machine, means whereby the operation of said mechanisms may be con! trolled from exteriorly of the machine,'and

an insulated housing inclosing said mocha nisms.

19. An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutofl? mechanism including two oppositely disposed rows of verticalliy extending picks, two oppositely dispose rows of horizontally extending picks projecting from said vertical rows of picks respectively, movable supports carrying said picks, fixed supports adjacent said movable supports, toggle levers connecting said supports, push bars operative upon said levers, restoring springs operative upon said levers, a plurallty of cams operative upon said push rods to control the movements of said supports, means 1 whereby cakes of ice are successively brought into the operative relation to said cutofl? said mechanisms.

20. An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutoii mechanism adapted to intermittently and progressively separate a c ke of ice intoa plurality of piece, a feeding mechanism whereby succeeding cakes of ice may be advanced toward and brought into the operative relation to, said cutoff mechanism as required, a storage mechanism adaptedto deliver cakes of ice as required in 0perative relation to said feeding mechanism, a chute leading from adjacent said cutoff mech-' anism, a tiltable bin adjacent the opposite end of said chute, means exposed exteriorly of the machine whereby said bi'n may be nisms.

21. An ice vending machine embodying therein a cutofi' mechanism adapted to intermittently and progressively separate a cake of ice into aplurality of pieces, a feeding mechanism whereby succeeding cakes of ice may be advanced toward and'brought. into the operative relation to, said cutoff mechanism as required, a storage mechanism adapted to deliver cakesof ice as required in operative relation to said feeding mech-' anism, a chute leading from adjacent said cutoff mechanism, a second chute pivoted above and spaced away from said first named chute, a stop adjacent the end of said last named chute, a retard device operative upon said upper chute, said upper chute being adapted to descend from the weight of a piece of ice so as to cause such ice'to pass upon said first named chute, a tiltable bin adjacent the opposite end of said chute, means exposed exteriorly of the machine whereby said bin may be opened to permit a purchaser to receive a piece of ice therefrom, means whereby the operation of said mechanisms may be controlled from exteriorly of the machine, and an insulated housing inclosing said mechanisms.

22. In an ice vending machine, the combination with means for supporting a large ice cake, of means for delivering a smaller section of ice cake, and means actuated in conjunction with said delivery'means for severing a smaller section 'from the large ice cake.

23. In an ice vending machine, the combination with means for supporting a large ice cake, of means for delivering a smaller section of ice cake, and means actuated in conjunction with said delivery'means for successively severing smaller sections from the large cake.

24. In an ice vending machine, the com bination with meansfor storing a series of large ice cakes, of means for intermittently advancing said series, means operating in the intervals between successive advancements for intermittently advancing one of said cakes in a direction transverse to the advancement of the series, and means for severing and delivering sections from the latter cake in its successive positions .of-advancement.

In witness whereof I have hereunto af-.

my signature this 12th day of June, 1924 GEORGE L. BENNETT. 

